On December 5th, the British government announced that in order to fully defend against Omicron variants, the immigration policy has been tightened again!

Entry into the UK policy tightened

Starting at 04:00 on December 7th, all passengers 12 years of age and older travelling to the UK must undergo a new crown nucleic acid test or rapid LFD test within 48 hours before departure, and obtain a negative test certificate.

Image source | GOV.UK

The post-entry quarantine policy has not changed at present: people only need to self-quarantine until they test negative within two days of arrival.

Everyone needs to stay at home

If you have completed the 2 doses of the UK certified vaccination plan, you need:

Vaccination certificate

PCR or lateral flow/antigen test must be completed within 48 hours before arrival in the UK (free NHS lateral flow test is invalid)

Purchase Day2 nucleic acid detection kit in advance

Complete the online passenger locator form (Passenger locator form) within 48 hours before departure

Isolate until the day 2 test is negative

All contacts of suspected Omicron cases must self-isolate for 10 days, regardless of vaccination status

If you belong to the incomplete/not vaccinated UK-certified vaccination plan (small partners who are vaccinated in the mainland belong to this category), you need to:

PCR or lateral flow/antigen test must be completed within 48 hours before arrival in the UK (free NHS lateral flow test is invalid)

Purchase Day2+Day8 nucleic acid detection kit in advance

Complete the online passenger locator form (Passenger locator form) within 48 hours before departure

Isolate at home for 10 days, until the test result is negative on Day2+Day8

Passengers who are not fully vaccinated can shorten the quarantine to 6 days by adding a Day5 test kit to participate in Test to released.

In other words, whether you are vaccinated or not, it is impossible for any international traveler to enter the UK recently to avoid isolation.

Red list updated again

Health Minister Javid also confirmed: Nigeria will be included in the red list from the same week, that is, non-British permanent residents/British nationals cannot enter the UK, and those with status will be compulsively quarantined in the hotel for 10 days after entering the country.

Because the correlation between Omicron cases and Nigeria is second only to South Africa.

At present, the red list has increased to 11 countries, which are:

Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Image source | GOV.UK

However, several cabinet ministers including Health Minister Javid emphasized that the tightening of immigration measures is temporary. The Public Health Department of the United Kingdom is closely monitoring the infection characteristics, severe illness rate, and mortality rate of the Omicron variant. Once it has more information, it will adjust the epidemic prevention strategy as soon as possible.

Travel and immigration rules may change rapidly at any time, including the United Kingdom and European countries. Xiaoxing advises travelers who need to travel to the UK to check the regulations of the British Ministry of Foreign Affairs for travel destinations in real time to get the latest news.

Christmas is approaching, everyone should take a good look and get a booster shot as soon as possible!